Today, on March 24, His Eminence, Most Eminent Alexander Metropolitan of Riga and all Latvia at the House of the Blackheads met with the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš upon initiative of the Head of Latvian Orthodox Church, where the parties discussed mutually successful current cooperation and current near-term issues.

The President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš conveys condolences in connection with the plane crash, which occurred in southern France, where theGermanwings plane crashed en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf. The President of Latvia emphasized that Latvia would join all the families of the deceased in our thoughts.

Today, March 23, the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš met with the Minister of Transport Anrijs Matīss and representatives of the ministerial management in order to discuss the issues being topical for the transport sector: progress and results of public consultation process as regards railway line “Rail Baltica”, Transport Summit for the Central Asia and the European Union (EU) (ASEM) expected in late April in Riga, and implementation progress of specific cooperation projects after the state visits of the President of Latvia to the Central Asian countries. The Minister of Transport stressed that specific involvement of the President A.Bērziņš and visits taken place under his leadership were significant for successful development of cooperation, as evidenced by progress within particular infrastructure and logistics projects.

Today, March 17, the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš met with the Ambassador of Latvia to the USA Andris Razāns to discuss bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between Latvia and the United States that were currently of great significance for both countries. During the meeting, cooperation in the area of military and security was discussed, which progressed really successfully in the light of the decisions made at the NATO Summit in Wales, by enjoying the strong political support from the USA as well.

Today, March 17, the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš met with the Ambassador of Latvia to the USA Andris Razāns to discuss bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between Latvia and the United States that were currently of great significance for both countries.

The President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš accredited the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland H.E. Ms Ewa Dębska and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ghana H.E. Ms. Akua Sena Dansua to Latvia on March 10.

Today, February 25, the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs in order to discuss the current developments in foreign policy and the way forward for solving major foreign policy issues being of great importance for Latvia and the European Union.

I am delighted to address so many experts from various sectors and high-level officials here in the House of Blackheads to analyse very significant and simultaneously complex issues that is enhancing parliamentary democracy, within the framework of an international conference.

Latvia strongly condemns the act of terror in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv at a peace march on 22 February commemorating the anniversary of the Maidan events; two people were killed and nine others were injured in the terror attack.